Substance: Reasonable presentation of historical conundrum, but unrealistic portrayal of American family in Britain, and of family relationships. Suffers from too much passion for Richard III and hatred of Henry VII. There is no real reason for H7 to haunt the protagonist children, or anyone else: the divided opinions of historians on who did or did not murder the Two Princes is hardly of eternal significance. However, the conceit of the haunted stained-glass portraits is kind of cool, and the "confrontation" of Richard and Henry is emotionally satisfying (if you think Richard is innocent).

Style: The weakest of Alphin's juvenile fiction novels. Although the idea is early (from college days), her writing style didn't mature as it did with other works. Would make a good movie for kids, however.

NOTES: The idea that souls are bound to the location of their body's death is unsound Christian doctrine, although there are many who believe it. Also, contra Alphin's "character witness" for Richard, plenty of "good husbands and fathers" have killed people for reasons of state, or otherwise (see the biographies of Nazi soldiers and obliging citizens).

I have, of course, my own theory about the death of the Princes, which exculpates both the usual suspects.
Watch for the book! ( )